Whole cell models, cellular metabolism

Thus, the kinetics of conversions In metabolic cellular sequences, and even in whole cell kinetics, at or near steady state may be expected to resemble the kinetic rate form appropriate to one or a very small number of sequential enzyme catalyzed steps. The implications of this point in kinetic models of structured cell systems are reflected in later contributions in this conference. 

Here again we have the problem of extrapolation but at least from a whole animal. In the whole animal, as in man, the multiple processes of metabolic activation and inactivation, and cellular interactions can occur and result in observable disease which is not the case in isolated cells. Therefore, why have we not been very successful in these types of studies Firstly, only a few life-time inhalation studies have been completed. Secondly, there has been only a limited success in developing animal models for human diseases, pulmonary and otherwise. We are interested in those diseases which are most likely to be associated with the inhalation of incompletely combusted plant and/or animal material. These diseases include lung cancer, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and cardiovascular disease. 

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